Do you wonder how many people happily check off their goals as ‘done’? What is their secret?
It is well-known that clear goals keep you on track, help avoid frustration, and make the most of opportunities. Unrealistic goals, on the other hand, can overwhelm you and cause burnout.
A University of Texas study found that entrepreneurs who persistently challenge themselves to achieve goals succeed and thrive. The trick? Breaking down big goals into bite-sized, doable tasks.
That’s the power of setting goals. But how do you set achievable goals?
We’ve combed through the shelves to find the top 10 goal-setting books. Packed with inspiring success stories and practical tips to help you set better goals and achieve the pending ones.
Let’s make this year your best one yet.
10 Best Goal-Setting Books to Achieve Goals in 2024
Summarize this article for me pleaseTop 10 Goal-Setting Books to Help You Achieve Goals in 2024
1. The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People by Stephen Covey
About the book
- Author: Stephen Covey
- Year published: 2020
- Estimated reading time: 12 hours
- Recommended level: Beginner
- No. of pages: 447
- Ratings
- 4.8/5 (Amazon)
- 4.6/5 (Goodreads)
Ever wished for a guide that can help you reshape your approach to life, bringing personal and professional success? Well, this book provides just that.
The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People is a timeless and influential classic. Authored by Stephen R. Covey, this book offers seven fundamental habits to cultivate a principled and proactive mind.
This book is more than a collection of self-help tips; it’s a holistic guide to problem-solving and personal development. Covey’s approach guides readers to be proactive, clearly envision their goals, and prioritize tasks effectively.
Whether you’re an expert or on the way to self-discovery, this book provides a blueprint for effectively achieving your goals.
Key takeaways:
- Recharge regularly–a sustainable lifestyle is key for long-term effectiveness
- Take charge of your life by being proactive and accountable for your actions
- Picture the future you want, align your actions with that vision, and avoid distractions by prioritizing what truly matters
What readers say:
“This book is a fantastic guide to navigating your work/life balance. It helps understand how you connect with others as well as with yourself. A great book for anyone who is ready to adapt and grow to your situation, situations and worse in their life.”
2. Your Best Year Ever by Michael Hyatt
About the book
- Author: Michael Hyatt
- Year published: 2019
- Estimated reading time: 7 hours
- Recommended level: Beginner
- No. of pages: 271
- Ratings:
- 3.8/5 (Goodreads)
- 4.6/5 (Amazon)
Stumbling upon Your Best Year Ever felt like a revelation. Micheal Hyatt’s no-nonsense guide is a game changer for anyone tired of seeing the big goals take a backseat in the chaos of daily life.
Hyatt, a seasoned author and leadership expert, simplifies your path to success with a five-step plan emphasizing clarity, motivation, and actionable tactics.
Hyatt’s ability to break down complex strategies into practical steps is evident throughout the book, as he shares a powerful system backed by research and case studies designed to help you
- Overcome setbacks
- Identify what is holding you back
- Achieve your goals without succumbing to the urge to quit
So if you’re searching for a structural approach to personal and professional goal-setting, this book is for you—it’s time for your best year ever.
Key takeaways:
- Work on the 10 key life areas at once for a well-rounded journey to success while relying on good allies in life
- Tackle mental barriers strategically and grow by learning from past mistakes and failures
- Set worthy goals that challenge and motivate, and adopt a little-and-often approach to achieve more
What readers say:
“Regardless of how you choose to track your progress, this book will help. It should be used in schools to teach kids how to reflect, adjust, set, and achieve in life. Don’t just read it, do it.”
3. Hard Goals by Mark Murphy
About the book
- Author: Mark Murphy
- Year published: 2010
- Estimated reading time: 5 hours
- Recommended level: Beginner to intermediate
- No. of pages: 192
- Ratings
- 4.5/5 (Amazon)
- 3.9/5 (Goodreads)
This book flips the script on goal-setting and urges you to ditch the norm and go for heartfelt and challenging goals to unlock extraordinary achievements.
Mark Murphy, a leadership expert and brains behind Leadership IQ, lays out a practical guide to creating goals that connect emotionally, motivate your brain, and nudge you out of your comfort zone.
Get this goal-setting GPS and embark on a journey to break free from the ordinary.
Key takeaways:
- Understand the science behind reaching the level that you desire for your business, career, and life
- Convince yourself that achieving your goals is a necessity, not an option
- Visualize techniques in your mind to start achieving goals with a growth mindset
What readers say:
“The book is great for those that are not really sure how to set goals. If you have personal or professional issues with achieving what you want, this book is nothing but pure gold. This is an education that each and every person that wants to be successful in anything should not be without.”
4. The Desire Map by Danielle LaPorte
About the book
- Author: Danielle LaPorte
- Year published: 2014
- Estimated reading time: 8 hours
- Recommended level: Beginner
- No. of pages: 288
- Ratings
- 4.4/5 (Amazon)
- 3.9/5 (Goodreads)
Ever felt like you’re constantly chasing goals and checking off your bucket list, only to end up feeling unfulfilled? Danielle LaPorte’s The Desire Map is your ticket to a heart-centered, meaningful goal-setting approach.
In this book, LaPorte offers a fulfilling life planning tool that’s bound to shake up your approach to goals. She’s unapologetically passionate and throws in plenty of warm wit, focusing on pinpointing your desired feelings based on various aspects of life like livelihood, body, creativity, relationships, and spirituality.
Ultimately, you’ll learn that it’s not just about planning your days, weeks, or months; it’s about feeling fantastic and making incredible things happen in every corner of your life.
Key takeaways:
- Ignite your life with desires, the driving force behind your actions
- Trust your feelings to guide you through life’s complex decisions and rise above weaknesses with self-acceptance
- Embrace unexpected situations in life and avoid pursuing goals that bring anxiety
What readers say:
“This book was an instrumental part of my healing journey. I love how much clarity I gained from defining how I wanted to feel in every area of my life.”
5. The One Thing by Gary Keller
About the book
- Author: Gary Keller
- Year published: 2013
- Estimated reading time: 8 hours
- Recommended level: Beginner
- No. of pages: 256
- Ratings
- 4.6/5 (Amazon)
- 4.1/5 (Goodreads)
Imagine having a book that simplifies success into one golden rule: focus on that one thing that makes everything else easier instead of just hard work.
That’s precisely what The ONE Thing by Gary Keller does. Keller, a big player in real estate, spills his secrets on how to cut through the noise and achieve more by doing less.
This book highlights the importance of prioritizing and focusing on what truly matters. Forget multitasking–the author argues it’s a myth. Instead, he provides strategies to identify and conquer your one thing.
So, if you’re tired of cluttered goals and want more productivity, income, power, and satisfaction to live your best life, this goal-setting book is for you.
Key takeaways:
- Prioritize the things you should do over the things you could do and create a hierarchy of priorities to ensure you use your time and resources efficiently
- Understand the value of individual progress through the slow and steady development of good habits. Begin to break down bigger goals into manageable tasks for momentum
- Hold yourself accountable for decisions—personal responsibility contributes to growth
What readers say:
“I have just completed this book and I have to say that I have never read anything like it. What I have learned has changed my perspective and I plan to implement it everyday to work towards my picture vision of my future life.”
6. Succeed by Heidi Grant Halvorson
About the book
- Author: Heidi Grant Halvorson
- Year published: 2011
- Estimated reading time: 9 hours
- Recommended level: Intermediate to advanced
- No. of pages: 304
- Ratings
- 4.6/5 (Amazon)
- 4.1/5 (Goodreads)
In this book, Dr. Heidi Grant, a social psychologist, dives into the science behind achieving goals. She busts myths and offers strategies for staying motivated.
The book teaches you to set goals for persistent pursuit, even in adversity. It also gives you manageable steps to build willpower, strengthening it like a muscle. The tips outlined in this scientific goal-setting book aren’t just for personal goals; they’re invaluable for parents, teachers, coaches, and employers.
Key takeaways:
- See self-control as a muscle that grows stronger with consistent practice and engage in daily disciplined activities to guide actions toward your goals
- Set specific goals that are challenging yet attainable for long-term satisfaction and successful goal achievements
- Shift focus from daydreaming to actionable steps, mentally simulating success for better preparation and believing in your abilities for true confidence
What readers say:
“I really appreciate the flow of the book, starting with helping you understand yourself and the way you think, then moving into goal-setting strategies after you have an idea of what works/doesn’t work for you. Books like these revive the reputation of self-help guides”
7. Goals! By Brian Tracy
About the book
- Author: Brian Tracy
- Year published: 2020
- Estimated reading time: 7 hours
- Recommended level: Beginner to intermediate
- No. of pages: 288
- Ratings
- 4.7/5 (Amazon)
- 4.2/5 (Goodreads)
Goals! is your guide to turning aspirations into accomplishments.
It’s not your average goal-setting book—this inspiring book is a framework with a practical guide from a seasoned motivational speaker and self-development expert. Tracy’s no-nonsense approach provides strategies for breakthroughs and explores the psychology behind achieving your goals.
This book offers practical exercises. It covers everything from time management skills to overcoming setbacks in an engaging style, creating a structured and hands-on approach to turning your dreams into reality by achieving goals
Key takeaways:
- Use your mind’s power to transform your life and eliminate negativity to transform your goal-setting journey
- Set specific, challenging goals with deadlines while aligning your actions with your aspirations
- Embrace failure, prepare well in advance, and take control of your life
What readers say:
“The ideas in the book are set out clearly and very easy to understand. Short self study at the end of the chapter really helps to set goals, get clear on your strengths, and areas of improvement”
8. Think and Grow Rich by Napoleon Hill
About the book
- Author: Napoleon Hill
- Year published: 1937
- Estimated reading time: 9 hours
- Recommended level: Beginner to intermediate
- No. of pages: 320
- Ratings
- 4.8/5 (Amazon)
- 4.1/5 (Goodreads)
In 1937, Napoleon Hill dropped an excellent book still rocking the motivational scene. This isn’t your typical get-rich-quick scheme. It’s a guide to achievements as relevant today as during the Depression.
Hill provides a step-by-step journey to financial success involving clear goals, a dash of positivity, and a lot of action. And guess what? He just didn’t make this stuff up. He gathered valuable insights from over 500 millionaires, including big shots like Thomas Edison and Henry Ford.
The author emphasizes that unblocking success requires more than wishes. It demands a burning desire to make dreams a reality. You must examine your attitude towards goals.
This insightful read will lead you to convert your goals into success stories with actionable steps and help you realize that true riches come from lasting friendships, family bonds, and inner peace.
Key takeaways:
- Begin to surround yourself with smart people to achieve great things and build desires strong enough to overcome obstacles
- Use positive affirmations, acknowledge the power of the subconscious mind, and maintain a never-give-up attitude for persistence
- Strengthen your belief in yourself and your full potential for success by consistently reaffirming your faith
What readers say:
“This is a must have book for anyone. It makes the best gift for anyone of any age. The concepts are priceless and the person needs to read it over and over to stamp the concepts in your subconscious mind.”
9. Big Potential by Shawn Achor
About the book
- Author: Shawn Achor
- Year published: 2018
- Estimated reading time: 7 hours
- Recommended level: Intermediate
- No. of pages: 240
- Ratings
- 4.7/5 (Amazon)
- 4.1/5 (Goodreads)
This book calls for a paradigm shift in our approach to success.
In a world fixated on individual achievement, Achor argues that pursuing success in isolation limits your potential, leading to increased stress and disconnection.
Drawing facts from neuroscience, psychology, and Big Data, Achor reveals that your potential is not confined to your achievements but is influenced by how you contribute to the success of those around you.
So, if you want to tap into the power of collective success for greater personal achievement and happiness, this book is for you.
Key takeaways:
- Boost your success by teaming up with others—it’s not a competition—it’s collaboration!
- Rise higher by surrounding yourself with positive and diverse influences by making them your growth squad and getting into the growth mindset
- Lead the change! Recognize your power, and don’t forget to share it to make a positive impact
What readers say:
“I love this book! Many management practices these days seem to be focused on your worth to the company as an individual. In this book, Shawn argues that everyone works in teams and that we should be trying to build world-class teams, not find world-class employees.”
10. The Art Of Setting Smart Goals by Anisa Marku
About the book
- Author: Anisa Marku
- Year published: 2019
- Estimated reading time: 1 hour
- Recommended level: Beginner inner
- No. of pages: 51
- Ratings
- 3.9/5 (Amazon)
- 3.4/5 (Goodreads)
In a world where everyone desires personal growth, Anisa Marku’s The Art Of Setting Smart Goals offers you a clear vision and is like having your coach master the art of goal-setting.
With a down-to-earth and practical approach, Marku helps you find success and fulfillment by demystifying the goal-setting process. The book takes you step by step:
- Asking yourself crucial questions
- Writing it down
- Visualizing the big picture
- Finding intrinsic motivation—your WHY
Marku introduces a simple yet powerful SMART framework–Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Timely–that makes setting smart goals achievable and enjoyable.
“Every single minute of every single day has to be planned out, otherwise, things get out of hand pretty quickly.”–Anisa Marku
Key takeaways:
- Learn about SMART goals and how to create one for long-term success
- Reward yourself when you achieve a goal and make this process a habit
- Break down your goals by tasks and time, holding yourself accountable for the outcome
What readers say:
“The book gives intricate detail on applying yourself for future growth. Gives you ideas to better your self esteem and better your knowledge of your personal life. Such a short book, but very insightful.”
Summarize this article for me pleaseSetting Goals with ClickUp
Embarking on a self-improvement journey with books that help set goals is great. But let’s face it, turning those insights into actual actions can be challenging.
However, with the right goal-setting software, you can track projects and prioritize tasks effectively, improving productivity and goal achievement.
ClickUp is a software that simplifies setting and tracking goals for personal and professional growth. It is an all-in-one project management software that transforms goal-setting from a mere aspiration into a structured and attainable reality.
Goal management features of ClickUp
ClickUp Goals is a top-rated goal management tools that provide features like automated tracking, progress reports, notifications, and OKR tools to help you turn insights from the books into achievable and reachable goals.
It allows you to easily break down high-level objectives into manageable targets, ensuring focus and motivation even in the face of challenges.
- Create standout goals: Manage and achieve your goals, covering OKRs, Sprints, and weekly scorecards with ClickUp Goals. It allows you to easily set deadlines for team goals, ensuring alignment with objectives. Collaborate efficiently with your team using the goal-sharing feature. Leverage the description field to provide additional information, context, or supporting details for your goals
- Track your goals: Measure your goal advancements through numerical, monetary, true/false, and task targets. Creating long-term goals, sprint targets, and weekly sales targets and integrating ClickUp Tasks from different teams into a project is smooth. Visualize progress percentages across multiple goals in a consolidated view and track your goals
- Stay organized: Manage goals with ClickUp’s Goals Folder feature. Seamlessly store and add new goals to your designated Goals folder. Use this feature to group all your goals into weekly goals, monthly goals, or even yearly goals. Using Folders, you and your team gain insights into how your specific goals contribute to the business objective. It also makes communication across the company transparent, allowing everyone to stay informed about goal advancements
- Templates: Use pre-designed goal-setting templates for quick and efficient goal creation. Strategically plan and organize your goals and objectives to suit specific project goals and requirements best. And here’s the best part: you won’t have to start from scratch with these templates
Summarize this article for me pleaseTake Action and Achieve Your Goals
There you have it—10 remarkable books that serve as your guides to accelerate your goal-setting process and encourage personal growth and greater achievements in your daily pursuits.
Remember that reading is just the beginning; the real magic happens when you turn those insights into action. Whether aiming for personal triumphs or professional milestones, these resources will be your trusted companions.
Leverage ClickUp to streamline your tasks and seamlessly integrate into your journey of achievements. Its features, from task organization to collaborative tools, help you manage goals efficiently.
Sign up to ClickUp to leverage the user-friendly interface and robust functionalities to ensure your goals become actionable steps leading to good habits and skills.
Questions? Comments? Visit our Help Center for support.